2002:0722 - COOLE DEMESNE, Galway

This site was identified during monitoring of Section 2 of the Pipeline to the West on 26 April 2002 in Coole Demesne, north of Gort, Co. Galway. Two spreads were identified. Spread 1 was subcircular, tapering to the south-east, and measured 2.7m north–south by 3m. Excavation along its north–south axis exposed a single fill of dark brown silt flecked with charcoal that increased in frequency toward the base of the deposit. The fill had moderate inclusions of slag and occasional small stones. The deposit was 0.25m deep, and there was no trace of scorched subsoil to indicate in situ burning. Spread 2, 0.3m south-west of Spread 1, was similar in colour and composition. It was oriented east–west and measured 1.5m north–south by 1.2m. This dark silty deposit contained occasional slag inclusions and had a maximum depth of 0.3m but averaged 0.22m.